Criminal Justice at Northwood Technical College

Rice Lake, WI · Public · Associate Degree · Criminal Justice and Corrections

a compact campus enrolling 2,026 students in Rice Lake, WI.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $44,966/yr, edging above the $39,484 national average for Criminal Justice — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand for this trade.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 52.0x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Criminal Justice programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Criminal Justice's career paths, with 36% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 0% gap from the optimistic case.

At $9,434 in median debt against $44,966 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

At #157 of 469 Criminal Justice programs, Northwood Technical College scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Criminal Justice offers 17 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

75 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
72
Low End
75
Score
76
High End
Earnings $44,966/yr (14% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (64% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (480,600 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$470K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
52.0x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
20 of 20
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$9,048
Out-of-state: $13,166
Median Debt at Graduation
$9,434
2.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Criminal Justice graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Managers, all other $136,550 +4.5% 53%
First-line supervisors of police and detectives $105,980 +2.9% 67%
Detectives and criminal investigators $93,580 -0.7% 47%
Managers, all other
$136,550
+4.5% growth 53% AI-proof
First-line supervisors of police and detectives
$105,980
+2.9% growth 67% AI-proof
Detectives and criminal investigators
$93,580
-0.7% growth 47% AI-proof

View all 20 career paths with full salary data →

Criminal Justice Career Guide

See the full career breakdown for Criminal Justice — job titles, salary ranges, and growth projections for graduates from Northwood Technical College and 468 other schools.

Read the full Criminal Justice career guide →

Compare & Explore

Criminal Justice Overview

Criminal Justice at Other Schools

Other Majors at Northwood Technical College

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Criminal Justice at Northwood Technical College?
At 75/100, this is a high-performing trade program. The TradeSchoolOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
How affordable is Criminal Justice at Northwood Technical College?
At $9,434 in median debt, Criminal Justice graduates from Northwood Technical College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.2x is well below the trade program average.
Are there apprenticeship options for Criminal Justice?
If Northwood Technical College's tuition gives you pause, consider that 17 DOL-registered apprenticeship pathways exist for Criminal Justice. You'd earn while training, avoiding student debt entirely — though completion takes longer than a certificate program.
Will Criminal Justice graduates from Northwood Technical College find jobs?
Job availability for Criminal Justice is strong — 480,600 positions open annually across the mapped career paths. For Northwood Technical College graduates specifically, local market conditions in WI may shift the picture.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →